MJF-4 THE AMERICAS Martha Farmelo is the Institute’s Suzanne Ecke McColl Fellow studying gender issues in . ICWA Her email is [email protected]. A Seizure or a Birth? LETTERS Pots Clang, a President Falls and 30 Die as Argentines Say “Enough!” Since 1925 the Institute of Current World Affairs (the Crane- By Martha Farmelo Rogers Foundation) has provided – December 21—3:00 p.m. I shouldn’t be writing this right now. long-term fellowships to enable My head hurts so badly that I should take two extra-strength Tylenol and lie down. outstanding young professionals My three-year-old son, Camilo, is napping, my precious opportunity to rest. But I to live outside the United States must write to slow the non-stop, three-day adrenaline-rush through my veins. and write about international areas and issues. An exempt I also write to understand the tightness in my stomach, fluttering in my chest operating foundation endowed by and pressure against the backs of my eyes—I think I’m feeling impotence, grief, the late Charles R. Crane, the elation, fear—about the vertiginous chain of events of the last few days. That Institute is also supported by chain began with scattered looting and ended in at least 30 deaths, the resignation contributions from like-minded of Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo and the loud, buzzing ascent of the heli- individuals and foundations. copter above the that whisked away President Fernando de la Rúa after he resigned last evening.

TRUSTEES I take a deep breath. What did I write yesterday? A few days ago? Last week? Joseph Battat I can’t even remember if the phone call from Eric, my worried friend in Washing- Mary Lynne Bird ton, was this morning or last night. Let me look back. Steven Butler William F. Foote ***** Kitty Hempstone Wednesday, December 12, 2001—11:00 p.m. Pramila Jayapal Peter Bird Martin Tonight at 8:30, I was giving Camilo a bath when I began to hear clanging Ann Mische pots and pans. Anticipating tomorrow’s general strike, men and women across Dasa Obereigner Buenos Aires banged cooking pots and drivers tooted their horns to express their Paul A. Rahe opposition to the government’s latest economic measures. The sound was so deaf- Carol Rose Chandler Rosenberger John Spencer Edmund Sutton Dirk J. Vandewalle

HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M. Holt Edwin S. Munger Richard H. Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot

Institute of Current World Affairs The Crane-Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Men and women of all ages banged pots and pans in the streets of Palermo Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 U.S.A. and other neighborhoods in Buenos Aires to protest the government’s economic policies, including a $250 weekly cash limit on withdrawals. ening that we had to shout to be heard. And this is not a just about everyone was shocked by the breadth and poor neighborhood. We live in middle-class Palermo, fierceness of this angry protest, one that transcended po- where the recent $250 weekly limit on cash withdrawals litical parties, unions or other organizing forces. has infuriated people who otherwise might not have par- ticipated in the protests. Thursday, December 13, 2001—9:00 p.m. Frightened, Camilo dipped his chin toward the bath water and covered his ears with his hands. I wanted to Alan just put Camilo to bed. We must be the only diffuse his fear and let him experience his first cacerolazo people in Argentina who put their kid to bed so early. (from cacerola, or cooking pot). I wrapped him in a towel, Most people haven’t even had dinner yet. carried him to our tenth-floor balcony and held him on my lap. In time, what was frightening became entertain- Due to the strike, Camilo’s pre-school was closed “for ing. When he asked why people were making such noise, security reasons” (such as the potential danger to those I told him simply that people are angry because they don’t who violated the day’s ban on public transportation) and have jobs. Echoing a conversation we had a couple of we were cautioned to stay close to home, just in case. As weeks ago, he replied, “Like the woman on the steps of we played Candy Land on our balcony and walked the the subway who asks for money because she doesn’t have eerily hushed streets of our neighborhood, men, women a job and can’t buy food?” and children looted grocery stores in Rosario—the same city where nationwide looting erupted 12 years ago at “Exactly,” I replied, stunned. the height of hyperinflation and eventually led to the res- ignation of President Raúl Alfonsín. Protesters burned The riotous clanging lasted twice the 15 minutes pro- taxis and ATMs in other parts of the country. grammed. I had read about such a protest last year in a US magazine, but it’s something else to watch your neigh- At first, people weren’t looting. Needy families in bors striking the hell out of their sauce pans and the guy several areas across the country simply shoplifted en masse who sells us our newspapers banging the lamppost with from grocery stores, even where the government and su- all his might. From what I’m hearing on tonight’s news, permarkets tried to head off such theft by distributing thousands of bags of food.

Monday, December 17, 2001—11:30 a.m.

I just e-mailed my friend, Jay, in Washington and told him about our weekend:

“In a word, we’re well. Yesterday morning the three of us went for a bike ride in the crowded, luscious, green Palermo Parks. It was glorious. The weather was sunny, low 80’s, low humidity. Camilo sang in his seat on the back of my bike. We happened upon the Buenos Aires Symphony playing a concert of Argentine classics under some trees. Then we ate some “choripan” (a sausage sand- wich) we bought from a vendor who had turned half a steel-drum into a grill, and rode around some more be- fore heading home for nap-time.

I’m sure you know that things here are getting dicey economically (and socially, politically), and it’s hard (though fascinating) to watch it unfold. Yet this weekend my stress level has been lower than in a long time, so I’m trying to just enjoy it as much as possible.”

Tuesday, December 18, 2001—11:00 p.m.

Summer vacation has begun. Friday was the last day of the school year, something I will forever associate with All over the city, the lines at banks to open accounts, June, not mid-December. I spent this morning toasting sign up for a debit-card or simply request information the upcoming New Year with 7-Up and pan dulce (Ar- wound around the block. gentine fruitcake) with middle-school social workers and 2 MJF-3 school psychologists I had met while observing a sexu- ality-education course for lo- cal teens. As I rode the num- ber 60 bus home, I thought, “Hooray! I’m on vacation! No newsletters for at least two weeks.”

So much for my lower stress level, though. Earlier tonight I settled in front of the news with a cup of lemon tea. There’s been looting in Rosario again. It seems ev- eryone is recalling 1989, and the news shows are even re- playing footage of looting from then.

But some key factors have changed for the worse. Alan just told me that the number of indigent people in Argentina has practically doubled on President de la Rúa’s watch. Between 1989 and 1999, then-President Carlos Saúl Menem chan- neled a fair amount of cash to the poor. This sustained cronyism, but held the num- ber of indigent Argentines stable at 2.9 million—even as the economy deteriorated in the latter half of those ten years and income inequality increased throughout. De la Rúa did no such thing, and in just two years the number of indigent Argentines soared to 5.7 million. That’s a lot more hungry people.

The financial context is also different. On December 1, 2001, Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo announced a new package of emer- actually more likely to be fired, since few businesses will gency measures. In the midst of the worst run on depos- want to increase fixed costs during a prolonged reces- its in recent history, the key policy is a $250 weekly limit sion. At Camilo’s pre-school, few parents can pay this month’s on cash bank withdrawals. Most Argentines receive their fee. As a result, the teachers and cleaning staff aren’t get- salaries and pay their rent, utilities, food and domestic ting paid, so many of them, in turn, can’t pay their debts, help (if they have it)—even buy cars and homes—with buy holiday presents or always put ample food on the cash. The result is rampant confusion and turmoil. table. It’s like being in the back seat of a car when the Cavallo claims this change will force much of the work driver slams on the brakes: not only does movement come that is paid under the table to be “officialized” so that to a sudden halt, but as you double over, your head hits employees can be paid with checks or bank transfers (and the front seat and the seatbelt cuts into your belly. receive benefits). Meanwhile, Argentines voted overwhelmingly “Yes” I’m hearing and reading accounts that employees are in a popular vote organized by the non-partisan Frente INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS 3 Nacional Contra la Pobreza or National Front Against Pov- is supposed to be married by a judge tomorrow, and her erty (FRENAPO). In just four days, FRENAPO mobilized church wedding is Saturday night. I hope everything will three million Argentines in neighborhoods and villages be OK. across the country to vote on a proposal to create monthly unemployment insurance of $380 per head of household, This afternoon I went for a walk through our section $80 for every child of unemployed parents and $150 for of Palermo and found that many stores had closed their senior citizens with no pension. About 9,000 voters opted doors, including the Disco grocery store and two phar- against the proposal. More people registered their “Yes” macies across the street. The white-coated pharmacists than voted for all the Peronist candidates combined in were filling prescriptions through a waist-high, one-foot- the October, 2001 mid-term elections. by-one-foot hole in their lowered, protective, metal mesh.

On the other hand, most of the shops along busy Wednesday, December 19, 2001—noon. Avenida Santa Fe were wide open and full of bustling shoppers, as was the Alto Palermo shopping mall. Darn! Alan’s mother was going to make the hour trip Though, again, it seems petty, my concern is not so much in to take Camilo to the suburb of Burzaco for his first safety, but rather—as a true Farmelo—getting food. If the big sleepover at Granny and Granddad’s, and Alan and looting doesn’t stop soon, markets are likely to be closed I were going to have more than 24 hours of down-time. indefinitely. We won’t go hungry, but as we’re short on Apparently there’s looting at supermarkets in Banfield fresh goods, we may have to get by on one hell of a lot of and Lanús, two suburbs between here and Burzaco, and pasta and dry corn flakes. Alan’s mother is worried that Camilo could become stranded for several days. I suppose she’s right. Given what’s going on, it seems petty, but I’m disappointed. Thursday, December 20, 2001-1:30 a.m.

A few hours ago, President de la Rúa declared a 30- Wednesday, December 19, 2001—6:00 p.m. day state of siege, suspending all constitutional guaran- tees. At 10:45 p.m. yesterday he gave a short speech that Today saw widespread looting throughout the coun- mostly condemned opportunistic looters and down- try, including sections of downtown Buenos Aires and played people’s hunger and frustration. About two min- its suburbs. It was horrific to watch Argentines pitted utes into it, I heard one individual bang a pot on their against Argentines, all of whom blame the government— balcony, then two, then several, then a multitude—an- not each other—for the current crisis. Traumatized shop other furious, spontaneous cacerolazo. owners were filmed in tears. Looters were filmed scream- ing, “We’re hungry!” and “We want to work!” Munici- At about 11:30 p.m., Alan and I were sitting on our pal workers on strike in the city of Córdoba stoned and balcony analyzing events when suddenly we realized that burned the municipal headquarters. Sixteen people have a massive column of people was moving down our four- died, some killed by shopkeepers. I’ve been worried lane, one-way avenue, diverting the oncoming traffic. about Camilo’s teacher Marina, whom I love dearly. She Thousands of people filling five city-blocks whacked their pots, pans and drums and chanted anti-Cavallo slogans. I think they were on their way to the Economy Minister’s home about a mile from here.

“Cavallo hijo de puta! La puta que te parió!” Cavallo son- of-a-bitch! The whore that birthed you! (a vintage Argen- tine curse).

It was breathtaking to see so many men and women of all ages—entire families, even—marching calmly, if noisily. They seemed to have mobilized spontaneously with no apparent leaders. The front of the march was just some middle-class folks in polo shirts, Bermuda shorts and sandals, walking along. There was not a sign of a political party, union or other organizational presence. It appears that just about everyone is totally pissed off and declaring that they won’t tolerate the current economic policies any more, period. About half an hour later, an- other group about two blocks long passed by our apartment. Similar marches took place in other parts of the country. Many parents with small children participated in the late- night cacerolazos and marches. In Buenos Aires, men, women and kids packed the 4 MJF-3 mounted police charged the loud but non-violent crowd in the , and people dispersed temporarily. Things have finally quieted down along our street and Camilo is going to get up by 7:30 a.m., protest or no pro- test. I’m going to try to sleep.

Thursday, December 20, 2001—3:00 p.m.

Yup, our gordo got up at 7:30.

Peaceful protesters and police remained in the Plaza all night. This morning things seemed fairly quiet, and I went for a swim downtown. My buddies at the pool mostly just looked at me, biting their lower lips, raising their eyebrows and shaking their heads. They talked of feeling uncertainty, anguish, indignation and relief. One woman spoke angrily of how frightened she was when heading home the night before to Ciudad Evita (Evita City), which is located near the Ezeiza airport. “The loot- ing, these politicians…this is a disaster,” she said.

The looting has mostly quieted down, in part because the government has promised to distribute millions in emergency food aid. I received an e-mail this morning from a researcher I had contacted, letting me know that I can call her anytime to get together. I can tell that down the street the magistrate is still conducting weddings. Every so often we hear the cheers of families and friends as the newlyweds emerge on the street.

However, as I write this, the police appear to have been ordered to empty the Plaza de Mayo, and the battle seems powerfully symbolic as well as violent. Cops are shooting water, rubber bullets and tear gas at peaceful protesters, and mounted police are charging unarmed Imagine five full blocks of our four-lane street, Avenida individuals, including a small group in the square sit- Coronel Díaz, packed with protesters whacking pots, pans ting huddled under an Argentine flag. Coincidentally, this and drums. is exactly the day and time that the white-kerchiefed Madres de Plaza de Mayo walk their weekly circles historic Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada, the around the monument in the Plaza demanding the re- same spot where an overwhelmingly working-class turn of their loved ones “disappeared” during the 1976- throng congregated in 1955 to demand Perón’s release 1983 dictatorship. The police have already arrested a from prison. Amazingly, this time there was not a single number of Madres, but they seem to be letting a small political banner or sign among the thousands of mobi- group circle the monument, though surrounded and prac- lized Argentines, nothing but the light-blue and white of tically crushed by police. the national flag. Some men had their young children up on their shoulders, clapping their chubby little hands. Meanwhile, the Congress is meeting to debate the Older men and women were supported by younger folk. state of siege and possibly revoke the executive’s super- powers and the $250 weekly cash limit. We still don’t People seemed both elated and furious, chanting know who will replace Cavallo; if, when or with what “Que se vayan! Que se vayan!” (They’ve got to go! They’ve the dollar-peso parity will be replaced; if de la Rúa will got to go!) and “Si este no es el pueblo, el pueblo dónde está?!” remain President; and what will happen over the Christ- (If this is not the people, then where are the people?!). mas holiday. Alan noticed that the more politicized word “pueblo” (im- plying social agency) is being used again, even by the Alan and I had a discussion about which of us would media, in place of the more innocuous “gente.” go observe the events, a question that would never have arisen if we didn’t have a child at home. The issue of By 12:30 a.m. Cavallo resigned and requested extra gender came up in a strange but not unusual way: al- security for himself and his family. Around that time, though we can not explain why, it seemed safer for Alan INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS 5 porters have started coming in. As an articulate, English- speaking, progressive, Argentine economist, Alan has suddenly been in demand for interviews on progressive U.S. radio like the Pacifica network. It’s going to be ex- hausting. He’s going to need to prepare, and I’m going to have to get Camilo out of the house when they’re ready to tape or go on the air.

Alan has agreed to be home by 6:00 p.m. or call. He promised to keep a prudent distance from the violence, and I trust him. Camilo and I made Christmas ornaments out of home-made play-dough and he’s painting them out on the balcony. Earlier, Camilo tried—and liked—his first mate, a bitter Argentine tea sipped through a silver straw from a gourd or wooden vessel. I took a picture to While Alan was observing the protests, Camilo show to Alan. tried his first mate, a bitter Argentine tea. as a man. The situation is clearly dangerous. Most peace- Thursday, December 20, 2001—7:00 p.m. ful protesters are abandoning the Plaza de Mayo, and except for a few female journalists scooting here and there On Alan’s way downtown, the subway shut down. with microphones, I see fewer and fewer women among A young, female police officer with a thick braid down the images on TV. We also weighed the fact that Alan’s her back wondered what to do. Alan knew things boded having grown up here and experienced a dictatorship poorly when she said, “They told all of us to go to Plaza gives him a set of street-smarts I just don’t have. In the de Mayo. I guess I’ll take the bus.” end, my fear of deportation caused me to vote for his going. I am still here on a tourist visa, and given the state Alan found people in dresses and ties participating of siege and the outbreak of violence, I don’t want to risk in the events, despite the chaos. The glass fronts of banks being evicted from Argentina. and stores had been riddled with bullets. Burning tires and other debris were sending up dense columns of gray While Alan’s been gone, calls for him from U.S. re- smoke. He brought back pictures of riot police, mounted

Protesters and police in the back of the Casa Rosada where the President goes in and out. The female officer with the braid down her back (fourth from the left) was with Alan on the subway before it closed down and they both caught a bus. 6 MJF-3 (Above) Police and protesters faced off on one side of the Casa Rosada, adjacent to the historic Plaza de Mayo. (Right) Frightened employees inside the Casa Rosada peer out the windows down on to the Plaza de Mayo.

police and burning cars. One of the most telling moments, sounded to me like he was declaring, “I’m ready to quit.” he reports, was hearing what was obviously a Peronist meeting a friend on the street and commenting, “We’ll As he spoke, Camilo said, “De la Rúa is bad.” be back. I’m going to be director of such-and-such again.” “Who says that?,” I asked. While Alan was out, Camilo watched with me while President de la Rúa made a speech calling on the opposi- “He just is,” he replied. I suspect he’s heard this at tion to join him in a coalition government. He also said that he pre-school. was not going to cling to his position and was ready to com- mit a significant act of grandeza (literally, greatness). It As de la Rúa spoke, the station began to show in the INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS 7 corner of the screen live shots of mounted police gallop- Menem is out of the picture. For weeks people have been ing near fires and smoke. I changed the channel, but not talking about the possibility of acefalía” (literally head- quickly enough. A few minutes later Camilo said casu- lessness), or what would be the chain of succession if the ally, “I want to live in Christmas Town,” (from the story President resigned. This debate was especially germane of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer). since the Vice-President, Carlos “Chacho” Alvarez of the progressive FREPASO coalition, was never replaced af- “Why, Sweetie?,” I asked. ter he resigned 14 months ago. I assume that Peronist Senate President Ramón Puerta, who was recently des- “Because it’s a nice place,” he replied. ignated as second-in-command when the President is away, is in charge. Actually, I’m not sure, but I’m my brain Sometimes one has to listen very closely to children. is saturated with the day’s events. I’m going to bed.

Thursday, December 20, 2001—10:30 p.m. Friday, December 21, 2001—4:30 p.m.

Four people were killed at or near the Plaza de Mayo Instead of lying down, I took two Tylenol and stayed today. One teenager was shot through the neck with a at my computer. It’s been another long day. More lead bullet. Sporadic food riots are still going on, as well. wounded protesters have died, bringing the death toll in and around the Plaza de Mayo to seven. The papers are De la Rúa has resigned. He’s been prohibited from reporting more than 2,700 arrests in the city of Buenos leaving the country because he’s being charged with or- Aires alone. dering the deadly repression. Cavallo is also prohibited from leaving the country as he’s implicated in a major This morning Camilo and I walked to the Norte gro- arms-trafficking case. cery store about four blocks away. The feeling inside was utterly strange. One short, sixty-something woman in the I guess Alan can kiss goodbye last week’s interesting job fruit section tousled Camilo’s hair and said, “Oh, what a prospect at the government’s international trade office. beautiful boy. It’s unbelievable what’s happening. Chil- dren are the most beautiful thing we have. People are I just switched on CNN and was horrified to find using them. They’re dying. It’s so terrible.” zero news on Argentina. “I can’t believe this! Don’t you know that people are dying here?,” I said out loud to the I wanted to put my palm over her mouth. Did she CNN people in Atlanta. not realize that such words are frightening to a three- year-old, or did she not care? What will happen next is not clear, especially as the opposition Peronists are splintered internally. Amazingly, Then at the deli-counter I waited with a slim woman who looked about 45 behind a gray-haired, slow-moving woman. As a heavy-set man in a white apron and butcher’s cap served up her sliced ham, the gray-haired woman raged on about how awful things are and what a terrible time it is to be an Argentine. Behind her back the slim woman smiled at me forlornly, and after the other woman was gone, I said, “I’d really just like to shop in peace.”

“Me, too,” she said. “But don’t you hear a silence?,” she asked.

She was right. Now that no one was ranting, there was a disconcerting hush in the huge store, just when the place Smoke and tear gas filled the streets around the Plaza de Mayo during days of looting should have been bustling and protest by hungry and furious Argentines. with pre-holiday shoppers. 8 MJF-3 “It’s sad,” she said. She looked heart- broken.

As I lined up my heaping cartful of food on the checkout belt, I learned that Norte’s free-delivery service had been suspended to protect the delivery guys. When I mentioned that I live just four blocks away, the cashier called over a young, male worker who pushed our load all the way home in a shopping cart. Camilo smiled ear-to-ear as he rode down the street in the cart’s fold-down seat.

At lunchtime, Gustavo, an old friend of Alan’s, stopped by. Sure enough, they began that chicken-and-egg debate about who provoked the violence, the police or the protesters. I was saved from their con- versation by a phone call from my friend, Lina, who was at her office at the Minis- Groups of mounted police galloped around the Plaza de Mayo and charged try of Education. After we established peaceful protesters. Images of them on TV prompted three-year-old Camilo to that we were all OK and confirmed that declare, “I want to live in Christmas Town.” we would meet just before Marina’s wed- ding tomorrow night, we had a conversation that con- from me, while we were watching TV). sisted solely of questions. “Yes, many people think so.” Hesitating, I asked her, “Well, what do you think?” “Why did he do a bad job?,” Camilo persisted. “Well…it was all predictable, don’t you think?,” she said. “Because he caused so many people to lose their jobs.” Good one. We know he gets the jobless thing. “But did you think it would happen so fast and be so violent?,” I countered. “How do people lose their jobs? Is de la Rúa without a job?,” and so on. I was astounded to learn of it. And she reflected, “How do you sort out what you think from what you feel? How do you distinguish now I am trying to maintain perspective. I realize that con- between what you expected, and what you didn’t expect, flicts far more sustained and bloody are taking place in and what has actually happened?” many places of the world. And for good or bad, Argen- tina still has a long way to go before it hits bottom. I am “And, I mean, what happens next?,” I added. perpetually haunted by images of the last time I was in Nicaragua: multitudes of idle men and women; no func- There was silence. “Things are so unclear—what do tioning transportation system for moving around I know?,” she said. Managua; shoeless, destitute kids everywhere.

Later that afternoon, Alan took Camilo to the zoo More than one U.S. analyst had said a while back nearby. Alan reported that as they crossed the botanical that what has happened was like a car crash in slow mo- garden and headed home, Camilo sustained perhaps his tion. To me it feels more like Argentina has just experi- first political discussion for more than five slowly-walked enced a 48-hour, collective seizure, and in its aftermath, city blocks. everyone is trying to figure out exactly what happened to the country and themselves. Alan counters that my “Where is de la Rúa?,” he wanted to know. metaphor implies that Argentines have been unconscious during these events, and just the opposite is true. Others “I’m not sure,” Alan said. like Congresswoman Elisa Carrió have likened the events to a birth. “Did he die?,” he asked. Indisputably, the middle class has, en masse, said “No, he’s fine.” “Enough!” The poor have said, “We can’t take it any- more.” What made the events so different and historic is “Did he do a bad job?” (I think he got that one the absolute lack of a convoking organization. And rather INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS 9 than a military overthrow, the people—el pueblo—have At points over the past three days, I’ve felt giddy with ousted their president. It does feel as if Argentina is en- hope about Argentina’s future. At this moment, I mostly tering a new era, though it’s hard to predict what exactly feel sick. will change.

What organic, organizational mechanisms might Sunday, December 30, 2001—11:40 p.m. emerge—or not—for channeling the sustained, construc- tive, massive influence of the middle and lower classes Post script on the political process? Events continue to unfold at a dizzying pace. On Fri- If organizing mechanisms do emerge, will they ne- day, December 21, Senate President Ramón Puerta agreed gate the very non-partisan, non-sectarian “purity” of the to take over from de la Rúa, but only for 48 hours while spontaneous nature of the uprising? the Legislative Assembly picked a new president.

In the absence of some organizing mechanism, will Two days later, I took Camilo to Parque Las Heras, a the threat of repeated, spontaneous mobilizations— large, rolling, green space two blocks away that is nor- peaceful or otherwise—serve to hold politicians (and se- mally filled with soccer players, sunbathers and kids. I curity forces) accountable? asked the only other mother at the playground why it was empty, and learned that hosts of Argentines were Will the newly-again-in-power Peronists understand glued to their TV sets watching the seemingly endless that Argentines throwing out de la Rúa is not the same congressional debate on the selection of Peronist gover- as their affirmatively choosing the opposition, and act nor Adolfo Rodríguez Saá to take over the presidency. accordingly? He finally did take office on December 23. As I write this, he is reading his resignation speech, and I have no idea While it seems clear that we’ve seen the end of the who will assume the Presidency next. current, IMF-driven, neoclassical economic model, will there be enough vision, consensus and political will to The first days of the Rodríguez Saá administration implement a viable, stabilizing alternative that leads to were described as “kinesthetic” and “vertiginous.” He reactivation, growth, jobs and an equitable distribution announced official default on Argentina’s public debt, of wealth? denied rumors of devaluation, pledged to create one mil- lion jobs by the end of January and eliminated ministries As I formulate these questions, I’m hearing on the such as public works and education (where my friend TV behind me a description of the dead: a 25-year-old Lina works). guy who three days earlier had found a job; a young, male seminarian; a 14-year-old boy who adored soccer Marina’s wedding was lovely, and after the ceremony and just graduated from eighth grade; a 35-year-old she was photographed surrounded by “her kids,” Camilo widow, mother of seven. included. The Christmas holiday was relatively quiet, except for the firecrackers and fireworks that went on Maybe I won’t cry after all. Alan hasn’t and won’t. through the wee hours. At midnight we sat on our bal-

This prophetic cartoon appeared in Pagina/12 on December 5, 2001. In the first frame, the bearded character says, “They touch our asses, they freeze our savings, they pay us when they want, they limit our trips, they lower our salaries, they fire us… I mean, are we ass-holes, the middle class?” In the second frame, “Let’s take to the streets, let’s throw out the [Economy] Minister, let’s fill the Plaza [de Mayo], let’s overturn unpopular measures, let’s defend the constitution. Forget 90 days [of the $250 weekly limit on withdrawals]. Freedom Now!” Then, “WHEN WILL WE THE MIDDLE CLASS RISE UP?” And in the last frame, “Before we no longer are one.”

10 MJF-3 cony, drank champagne, ate pan dulce and wondered out loud what will happen next.

Meanwhile, government workers cleared away the piles of ashes and burned-out carcasses of automobiles. Bank staff and shop owners started sweeping up the de- bris and ordering replacement glass for their shot-up and busted-in storefronts, and those who could began to sub- mit insurance claims.

Then at 10:00 p.m. on December 28, we heard some people clanging pots and pans here and there on their balconies. By 11:30 or so, noisy but peaceful crowds con- verged at Avenida Santa Fe two blocks from our apart- ment and in other middle class neighborhoods such as On December 28, people mobilized in another spontaneous Belgrano and Caballito. Once again, mostly middle-class cacerolazo which led to the resignation of the new Argentines waving nothing but national flags spontane- President’s chief adviser, who is charged with corruption. ously took to the streets and coalesced around three prin- cipal issues, which could be discerned from the chanting. tacking a cop appeared on the screen. A retired police officer present shot all three dead, point-blank. When Those festering concerns were dubbed the three “c’s”: thousands of neighbors burned two vehicles in front of el corralito (the little corral), or limits on bank withdraw- the police station, officers responded with tear gas and als; la Corte, the Supreme Court, named mostly by Carlos rubber bullets. Menem and considered enormously corrupt; and corrupción (corruption) in the new President’s cabinet— Events like these are an eerie echo of the most recent principally his chief adviser, Carlos Grosso, the former dictatorship. Many claim that the ferocity of the police mayor of Buenos Aires who is facing charges of fraud and corruption. By 1:30 a.m., Grosso had resigned. Protesters— we don’t know who they were—also broke into and vandalized the Congress and attacked the police at the Casa Rosada.

Yesterday, Rodriguez Saá asked for the resignation of his entire cabinet in response to the cacerolazo and to gain the support of the full block of Peronist gov- ernors. Today, he called a meeting at the presidential summer residence with those 14 governors to decide on next steps. When only five showed up, he announced then and there that he would resign. During the meeting, Ar- gentines surrounded the residence banging pots and pans so loudly those inside could barely carry on their busi- ness.

Meanwhile, tension has also been heightened by continued, if sporadic, violence. Yesterday, train workers who have not been paid for months attacked railroad offices at the Once station and burned the train cars they normally Protesting Argentines achieved the resignations of Economy Minister work on. Also yesterday, three young Domingo Cavallo (top left), President Fernando de la Rúa (top right, and men watching TV in a market in the the new President’s chief adviser, Carlos Grosso (bottom left). President neighborhood of Floresta commented Adolfo Rodríguez Saá (bottom right) resigned after seven days in office something to the effect of “he deserved in response to an institutional crisis within the Peronist party. it” when images of young protesters at- INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS 11 attacks in and around the Plaza de Mayo exceeded the repression of pub- lic protest during the dictatorship. The daily Clarín reported today that ICWA Letters (ISSN 1083-4303) are HIJOS, an organization of sons and daughters of people “disappeared” published by the Institute of Current between 1976 and 1983, denounced the distribution of fraudulent flyers World Affairs Inc., a 501(c)(3) exempt with the organization’s name on them calling for the looting and burning operating foundation incorporated in of the Congress and Casa Rosada. To many, this smells like the work of the New York State with offices located at security forces, or frightening, far-right groups. 4 West Wheelock Street, Hanover, NH 03755. The letters are provided free of As I have watched the post-de-la-Rúa political harangues, I have charge to members of ICWA and are thought to myself, “So much for so many women in politics” (see MJF-1, available to libraries and professional MJF-3). Despite 30-percent female representation in the Congress, the de- researchers by subscription. cision-makers on the news have been almost exclusively male. What a contrast to the looters and protesters, who except for the bitter end on Phone: (603) 643-5548 December 20th, appeared to be equal numbers of men and women. E-Mail: [email protected] Fax: (603) 643-9599 That has even been true when the form of protest was banging pots Web Site: www.icwa.org and pans. After the apron, what stronger symbol of women’s domestic roles than a cooking pot? What is the origin of such an intriguing form of Executive Director: Peter Bird Martin protest? I was surprised to learn that the intellectual author of the cacerolazo Program Assistant: Brent Jacobson is actually Carlos “Chacho” Alvarez, de la Rúa’s former Vice President, Publications Manager: Ellen Kozak who organized anti-Menem mobilizations during the 1990s. ©2001 Institute of Current World Af- fairs, The Crane-Rogers Foundation. Just this morning our friends were feeling everything from excite- The information contained in this pub- ment to dismay to disgust. Virtually everyone was—and still is—won- lication may not be reproduced with- dering, “How far will this go?” and “What’s next?” I couldn’t help but out the writer’s permission. focus on the possibility of judicial reform. If Argentines succeed in bring- ing real accountability to the justice system, they will have achieved one of the most far-reaching and profound changes imaginable. I asked my- self, “Can ‘people power’ make that happen?” Now I’m extra-aware of Author: Farmelo, Martha J. the more basic issue of Argentina’s governability. Title: ICWA Letters - The Americas ISSN: 1083-4303 Like a cat with nine lives, just 12 hours ago and despite the violence, Imprint: Institute of Current World Argentina seemed to once again have a chance to recoup, to grow and to Affairs, Hanover, NH establish economic and political systems that work. Right now it’s not Material Type: Serial clear if this cat has landed on its feet. My friends and family outside Ar- Language: English gentina want to know if we feel horrified or unsafe. Mostly, I consider it a Frequency: Monthly privilege—though it will be a struggle—to watch things unfold. ❏ Other Regions: East Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; Mideast/North Africa; South Asia; Europe/Russia

Institute Fellows are chosen on the basis of character, previous experi- ence and promise. They are young professionals funded to spend a minimum of two years carrying out self-designed programs of study and writing outside the United States. The Fellows are required to report their findings and experiences from the field once a month. They can write on any subject, as formally or informally as they wish. The result is a unique form of reporting, analysis and periodic assessment of interna- tional events and issues.